CANTO VIII.

Ascent to the Third Heaven, or that of Venus, where are seen the Spirits of

The Fourth Heaven, or that of the Sun, where are seen the Spirits of Theolo-
gians and Fathers of the Church. St. Thomas Aquinas .

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CANTO XI.

St. Thomas Aquinas recounts the Life of St. Francis.

CANTO XII.

St. Buonaventura recounts the Life of St. Dominic

CANTO XIII.

Of the Wisdom of Solomon.

CANTO XIV.

62

69

The Fifth Heaven, or that of Mars, where are seen the Spirits of Martyrs, and
The Celestial Cross . 89

of Crusaders who died fighting for the true Faith.

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CANTO XVIII.

The Sixth Heaven, or that of Jupiter, where are seen the Spirits of Righteous

Kings and Rulers. The Celestial Eagle .

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CANTO XIX.

The Eagle discourses of Salvation by Faith

CANTO XX.

The Eagle praises the Righteous Kings of old.

CANTO XXI.

116

The Seventh Heaven, or that of Saturn, where are seen the Spirits of the

St. Benedict.

CANTO XXII.

His Lamentation over the Corruption of the Monks.
Eighth Heaven, or that of the Fixed Stars.

His

CANTO XXVIII.

God and the Celestial Hierarchies

CANTO XXIX.

Beatrice's Discourse of the Creation of the Angels, and of the Fall of Lucifer.
Her Reproof of the Ignorance and Avarice of Preachers, and the Sale
of Indulgences

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CANTO XXX.

The Tenth Heaven, or Empyrean. - The River of Light.

-

183

189

196

Prayer to the Virgin. - The Threefold Circle of the Trinity. - Mystery of the

203

210

217

225

387

389

393

394

403

407

I

LIFT mine eyes, and all the windows blaze

With forms of Saints and holy men who died,
Here martyred and hereafter glorified;

And the great Rose upon its leaves displays.
Christ's Triumph, and the angelic roundelays,
With splendor upon splendor multiplied;

And Beatrice again at Dante's side

No more rebukes, but smiles her words of praise.

And then the organ sounds, and unseen choirs

Sing the old Latin hymns of peace and love

And benedictions of the Holy Ghost;

And the melodious bells among the spires

O'er all the house-tops and through heaven above

Proclaim the elevation of the Host!

STAR of morning and of liberty!

O bringer of the light, whose splendor shines
Above the darkness of the Apennines,

Forerunner of the day that is to be!

The voices of the city and the sea,

The voices of the mountains and the pines,
Repeat thy song, till the familiar lines

Are footpaths for the thought of Italy!
Thy fame is blown abroad from all the heights,
Through all the nations, and a sound is heard,
As of a mighty wind, and men devout,
Strangers of Rome, and the new proselytes,

In their own language hear thy wondrous word,
And many are amazed and many doubt.